Transformers 4

Transformers 4, Michael Bay To Direct ‘Transformers 4,’ Producer Confirms
The fourth film, which will be released in summer of 2014, will be ‘an evolution,’ Lorenzo di Bonaventura tells MTV News.

Posted on February 14, 2012 by By: Kevin P. Sullivan, MTV.com
Since late last year, rumors began firing off about a potential “Transformers” sequel or sequels, and they ran the gamut. Paramount might film two sequels back to back. Michael Bay might return for both. Jason Statham may be the new star. Rumors came and went, but perhaps the biggest question lingered: Will Bay return to direct?

The master of the big-budget explosion, Bay’s highly stylized eye for action lent the trilogy its signature look and breakneck pace. With potential sequels looming, no word had been given on whether Bay would return for any follow-ups.

But at Toy Fair 2012, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed to MTV News that Bay would, indeed, return for a fourth “Transformers” film. “Michael’s going to direct, and it’ll be in the summer of 2014. We’ll be releasing then,” Di Bonaventura said.

Di Bonaventura said that the director is eager to get back to the franchise he started. “He’s a cool customer. He’s excited,” he said. “I think the challenge there is that we are really going to do a reboot and what that’s going to be, we don’t even know yet.” Bay will reportedly film the next “Transformers” after making “Pain and Gain,” which has Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg circling major roles.

As for the Jason Statham rumors, di Bonaventura said that it is way too early in the process to decide something like casting. “No, it’s so silly. We have to get a story first,” he said. “You can’t pick characters if you don’t have a story.”

With the series heading in the direction of a reboot, many new questions form about which characters and storylines will return. Di Bonaventura insisted that the fourth film will not be a hard reboot, but an “evolution.”

“Again, it’s a hybrid because it’s a funny thing. I’m not involved with ‘Spider-Man,’ but what I perceive ‘Spider-Man’ to be is just a redoing of the whole thing. It’s not. It’s an evolution. There’s still continuity that’s going on, yet there will be a lot of new cast,” he said. “Whether there’s anybody from the first cast, we don’t even know yet. The trust is it’s going to be a whole new story. The characters that would certainly come along are Optimus and Bumblebee, I’m sure.”